Eat, Teach, and Pray (and Play :)) - January 22, 2014

After starting the week with a banana bread bang (only baked 30 loaves this time), we cleaned and made ready for the Crubaugh family to join us for dinner and FHE.  Teaching Matthew, 12, to make Chicken Divan was pretty fun.  The big job of the evening was constructing a workable job chart for the family, as well as a simple FHE chart.  Sometimes we all need a little help, don't we?

Tuesday was spent largely preparing and rehearsing for our Zone Meeting presentation.  FHE with the Murphy singles group and some less-actives visits filled up the rest of the day.  
We were allotted 35 minutes during Zone Meeting to train on listening and adjusting to meet the investigator's needs.  Role plays took part of the time.  These have been a bit difficult for us to adjust to, but we have begun to see their value.  We take a principle and practice teaching it with a proxy investigator.  It's very helpful in developing our abilities, knowledge, and companion unity.  

We have had several wonderful meals with members, both in their homes and out to restaurants.  It's a pleasant friendshipping time building deep relationships that we will always cherish.

Our wonderful young investigator, Hunter, and his girlfriend, Elizabeth, spent an hour+ with us one afternoon asking questions he had about the Church.  It was a great experience!  We wish more people would write down their questions and bring them to us.  It would help allay their fears and correct their misconceptions.  

The highlight of our week was meeting with Bro. Barmes, his wife, Carolyn, and his grand-
daughter, Robyn.  We taught the Plan of Salvation to them.  Bro. Barmes had supportive, knowledgable insights to share.  Both Carolyn and Robyn enjoyed and accepted everything we taught, and want to continue with lessons.  We nearly did cartwheels!  They are such great people, and we want to share this beautiful gospel with them so badly.

The second member missionary activity was super!  The Boyds provided a scrumptious dinner after Church, then taught a terrific lesson on serving in the Church.  This idea of Elder Ogden is working very well with our new members and was certainly inspired.

We are working hard at the Food Pantry, spending several hours at a time running to and fro 
helping people and wearing out our feet.  The number of people needing assistance seems to have lessened only a bit from the holidays.  This part of N.C. is rather poor with many people living on disability only.  It's a sad scenario.

Bro. Frady, who joined the Church last June, has had to say farewell to his beloved mother.  She passed away a couple of days ago after a battle with cancer.  The Branch has been praying for her for quite awhile.  Last night many of us attended the viewing and funeral.
It was Lynn's and my first Baptist funeral.  The feeling was kind and full of love; the music was typical mountain folk; the preaching was heartfelt.  We are, however, so grateful to have a deeper knowledge of our future, of the Savior's gospel, and of our potential.  It's like they can paddle around on the surface of a beautiful lagoon enjoying the beauty there, while we can dive deeper to explore the reefs and wonders beneath.  There is so much more to know than most people realize or will admit.

We hope you are able to stay warm, healthy, and safe in this wintery weather.  We love you!
We love the Lord!  We testify that His gospel is true, every whit!  We have tested it and have found it to be so.

See all ya'll next week!

Love this quote!

Elder Crestani sporting his new stocking cap
while helping Sister Daras with her Nook.

Set up at the Church for our date to watch
Mary Poppins while the Elders
practice their musical number.

Elder Crestani assisting Pam
with dinner.

Elder Froelich resting
before dinner.

Surprise, Elder Ogden!

 Copy and paste the link below into the address bar to listen to our Elders perform.
                              file:///Users/laurelogden/Music/Elder%20Crestani,%20Froelich%20Live%20Recording%20.mp4

Upsy-Downsy Week - January 12, 2014

Although the Elders and we carefully set up quite a few appointments with investigators and less-actives this week, nearly all of them fell through.  One day six in a row stood us up.  It was disheartening as well as draining the gas tank and racking up miles.  Oh well.  We picked up and tried again.

Tuesday we made the trip to Asheville for Lynn to visit the cardiologist.  After wearing a heart monitor for a month+, several EKGs, meds that didn't work, he is now scheduled for ablation procedure in April.  He would like it sooner, but the surgery schedule is filled up till then.  Ablation basically means that they will fix the electrical parts of his heart that have gone haywire.

While Lynn was with the doctor, I took the car for servicing and new tires.  We are so efficient!  We stopped for a nice lunch of ribs at TGIF before we left town.  It was a full day, but productive and good.

Wednesday we spent the day in Robbinsville.  The Barmes' hosted FHE again after a very nice luncheon.  Carolyn insists we have lunch and that she "assemble" it without any help.  She says she doesn't cook.  She's a hoot!  Vernon's granddaughter has made an appointment with us to start teaching her at Barmes' home.   Carolyn said, "Sure you can meet here!  Then you can teach me, too!"  Woohoo!!  We are excited!

After our FHE we visited a non-member grandmother of some members, who is now in a nursing home.  Lynn took his ukelele and Elder Crestani took his guitar.  We sang to her and several other patients and had a nice visit.  They seemed quite surprised that these Mormons were nice and not too weird.  We were even invited back.  :)

Laurel had the pleasure of having lunch with Emma Flinn, who is the lead (along with her husband, Tom) at the Food Pantry.  It was a nice girl time.  Flinns are great people that we will always stay in touch with.

Friday evening we attended a very interesting concert at the Folk School.  A couple performed on flutes, Irish hand drum, and with body masks.  Laurel bought one of their DVDs for our son, Barry, who is an actor and director.  He likes using masks in plays.
We gathered afterwards at the Crubaugh's home for dinner along with Pam, our new convert, and the Elders.  Great evening!

Lynn and the Elders helped remove worn-out carpet from a family's home on Saturday while Laurel studied to teach Sunday School.  After more failed appointments, we escaped for a date and enjoyed "Saving Mr. Banks".

Sunday was spent enjoying our Church meetings and studying the rest of the day.  We have been asked to give a 35-minute training at Zone Meeting on Wednesday, so we are working hard on our preparation.

Our prayers are constant for our many friends, family, investigators, and many others.  We are grateful for the Lord's continued blessings and especially for His love.  We love you all!!
Have a wonderful week!  Life is good!

Jenga right before it toppled.  

Large flock of wild turkeys.

Elders Froelich and Crestani singing
hymns to Pam.

Looking sharp in Bro. Barmes' hat.

Too small, sir!

Beautiful stained glass window in
nursing home chapel.

Whimzik performing.

Horse nose was a bird, back of head
upside-down was a dragon, all
together it made a horse...
ingenious!

Happy New Year 2014!

Our New Year's Eve was the best ever!  We held a baptism for Pam Voyles, whom the Elders have been teaching for a few months.  She has become a dear friend of ours, as well, since we usually took the Elders to their teaching appointment with her.   A nice buffet of refreshments followed the baptism service, keeping our tradition for New Year's Eve.  About 25 people attended.  Pam has also become the best missionary in the Branch.  She even began teaching about the Book of Mormon to a Verizon customer service rep while on the phone with him.  :) 

 New Year's Day was transfer day for the mission.  Elder Bacon left us after four months, but Elder Crestani remained as our new District Leader.  It's always inspiring and fun to attend the meeting where new companions meet, new "Goldens" (some missions call them greenies) are introduced, and we get to see old friends.  Transfers always take place in Knoxville, so it's a long day for those of us who live far away.  

We have driven many miles trying to visit people, most of whom weren't home.  :(  However, we always leave a note and some banana bread or cranberry bread.  It's not even possible to call ahead to make arrangements for a visit to some people, because they don't all get cell reception unless they come into town.  Not that many people have land lines.  Each time  we light out we never know what adventure we are embarking upon.

The Elders have spent most of P-day with us today.  The weather is bitter cold, as it is in most of the country right now.  We  played Aggravation, did our grocery shopping, and ate lunch and dinner together.  They emailed their families from our computers since the library was closed today.  (The head guy couldn't get off his hill to get to town.  :/ )

 Below is included part of a letter to our family.  They asked that we add it to our blog.

    We are also involved with the Elders in teaching a  Hispanic family that dropped into their laps.  It's amazing how the Lord prepares some people.  It's a thrill to witness.  The mother is a member who had been looking for the Church for seven years and never found it here.  Can't believe it!  Now her husband is SO ready!  He believes every single word he is taught!  He says, "I believe it all.  Our home feels so much better since you (the missionaries) are coming.  I just want to know what I have to do to be baptized."  Amazing!  And thrilling!

    I cannot believe the tremendous increase in love that I feel for all my fellow man since coming on our mission.  Disappointments are very deep when people make damaging choices in their lives, especially when they cause pain or suffering to others.  Conversely, joy is incredibly deep when people choose to follow the Lord in the truth.  I am very grateful for this experience.

   Dad continues to have heart problems.  He is again wearing the monitor.  Apparently atrial fibrillation continues and is a concern.  His doctor here in Murphy is sending him to a cardiologist in Asheville.  We'll see what they decide.  There may be oblation therapy.  Robert recently had to have that done.  They are so much alike, perhaps their hearts are, too.    Of course, he doesn't let all this slow him down.  

   I've been experiencing some lower back trouble this last week.  It's so annoying!  I keep plugging along, though.  Someday it will go away as quickly as it came, I hope.  

   We finally got enough snow to cover the grass and the roads.  I was so happy!  I ran out in my pjs for a short bit just to enjoy the gift.

It was great!

   Hope everyone is well, safe, and determined to have a wonderful year.  We love you all SO VERY MUCH!!

Thank you gift for caring for sick Elders

Good-bye to Elders Bacon, Watson, and Hunt
at transfers

Elder Ogden and Elder Ogden

The talking monkey that drives

Hardscrabble Road, NC--
Grandpa Ogden was born in Hardscrabble
outside of Richfield, UT

Not sure if this is a joke or not!
"Caution!  This place is now
protected by God, guns,
and the law."
A scary sign to encounter in the night.

                                         

                                        

                                        Having fun in my pjs

Hey North Carolina, this is a Utah house!

At last!  

Elder Bacon, Pam Voyles, Elder Crestani